Virginia Blaha

BLAHA Virginia — The family announces with heartfelt sorrow the death of Mary Virginia “Ginny” Blaha (née Wolak), who passed peacefully at the Brantford General Hospital, on August 8, 2015. Virginia was the beloved wife of the late Richard Blaha and cherished mother of Bernadene and her husband Kevin Fitz-Gerald, of Los Angeles; Gregg and his wife Laurie, of Oakville; John and his wife Cindy, of Brantford; Mark and his wife Shari, of London; and Paul and his wife Laurel, of Calgary. She will be forever missed, as “Babcia,” by her grandchildren Michelle, Sean, Matthew, Lauren, Samantha, Julia, Will and Jacob. She will also be lovingly remembered by her dear sisters Andrea Balog, Stephanie Stirling, Paula McKay and their families; brother Joseph Wolak, his wife Debbie and their families; sister-in-law Joan Blaha; aunts Wilhelmina and Josephine Wiacek; uncle Bernard Wiacek; and her many cousins and their families. A pre-eminent pedagogue in the fields of piano and music theory, Virginia worked as the devoted teacher of generations of students across southwestern Ontario. She was an active member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, frequently serving as an adjudicator and a master-class clinician at Canadian and American youth piano festivals. For her dedication, she received a Special Teachers’ Award for excellence in musical achievement, from the ORMTA. Her studies began with Mary O’Grady in Brantford and culminated with Boris Berlin at the University of Toronto, where she received her A.R.C.T. diploma. Virginia was a member of St. Joseph’s Parish since its foundation and served as the church’s organist and choir director for more than six decades. Her love of the choir, liturgical music and church service was a vital part of her daily life. After her husband’s untimely death in January 2002, she was appointed trustee of the St. Joseph’s Memorial Scholarship Fund. For her tireless service and commitment to the parish, Virginia received the prestigious Diocesan Medal of Honour. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, August 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., at the Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home, located at 96 West Street, Brantford. Rosary to be recited Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, August 12, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, located at 235 Brant Avenue, Brantford, followed by interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or St. Joseph’s Parish Memorial Scholarship Fund. THORPE BROTHERS’, (519) 759-2211.